Render Massive 3D Models in AR and VR Applications

HOOPS Visualize is the gold-standard graphics engine powering hundreds of leading 3D engineering desktop and mobile applications. Expanding from desktop and mobile to AR and VR applications is easy with HOOPS Visualize, as SOLIDWORKS (link to PDF) discovered when creating their AR mobile app for eDrawings.

Render enormous 3D models with HOOPS Visualize, an industrial-grade graphics engine that produces stunning visuals for immersive VR headsets such as the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift. Display manufacturing and AEC specific details in 3D models on AR headsets, such as the Microsoft HoloLens and Meta 2, and on AR mobile apps, using HOOPS Visualize.

SOLIDWORKS eDrawings

“Being able to add augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) like the Google Cardboard to eDrawings mobile with a single click helps our customers create compelling presentations and 3D interactions. It easily communicates design intent, constraints and overall improves the collaboration process. Because we were already using HOOPS Visualize as the graphics engine on iOS and Android, adding these capabilities on these multiple platforms was straightforward and a powerful addition to eDrawings.”

Data Access: HOOPS Exchange

How do I support engineering or construction data in my application?

Complex models can cause a poor user experience because the minimum rendering speed of 50 frames per second cannot be met.

Model simplification is the simplest way to improve performance. HOOPS Exchange can be used
to tessellate CAD files that contain BREP (see list here) at a lower level of detail. This results in a
less detailed but higher performance XR experience.

Other SDKs such as Parasolid from Siemens and Polygonica from MachineWorks, both resold
exclusively by Tech Soft 3D, can be used to simplify your models further. Contact us for more
information and to discuss your specific performance needs.

Both high visual quality and performance can be achieved using powerful graphics engines, such
as HOOPS Visualize, that use advanced rendering techniques such as data reorganization to
avoid context switching, culling and generation of vertex buffer objects (VBOs) to further
improve performance.

How do I include textures?

Few CAD formats include native support for textures and materials. When present within the file,
HOOPS Exchange will extract textures from SolidWorks, AutoCAD DWG/DXF, OBJ, glTF, U3D, PRC and
Revit. This information is directly accessible within your application through HOOPS Exchange API or it
can be written out into an interoperable format such as FBX or OBJ.

How do I apply textures?

Many users will want to enhance a model with textures and materials by applying them manually.
The HOOPS Exchange API can be used to apply textures and materials. Developing a user interface for
applying textures can become quite complicated. Standalone applications such as 3ds Max or Maya can
be used to apply textures to a model manually. The enhanced model can then be written as an FBX, OBJ
or DXF and imported into your application.

XR FAQS

Visualization: HOOPS Visualize

What hardware does HOOPS Visualize support?

HOOPS Visualize runs on:

VR – HTC Vive and Oculus Rift

AR – Microsoft HoloLens and Meta 2

Mobile – iOS and Android

What advantages does HOOPS Visualize have over other graphics engines?

HOOPS Visualize is an engineering-centric graphics engine. It can visualize extremely large models
using a variety of advanced rendering techniques such as data reorganization to avoid context switching,
culling and generation of vertex buffer objects (VBOs). It contains a variety of readymade tools for
interrogating engineering like fast object select, cutting planes, measurement and redlining. Also,
HOOPS Visualize is integrated with other engineering SDKs like HOOPS Exchange for importing rich CAD
data and Siemens Parasolid for solid modeling. The HOOPS Exchange integration allows access to native
CAD assembly trees, product manufacturing information (PMI), view and configuration management
and additional metadata.

Does HOOPS Visualize support integrations with other XR toolkits?

Yes, HOOPS Visualize works with OpenVR for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, ARKit for iOS and ARCore
for Android. Other SDKs can be easily integrated using HOOPS Visualize using unique IDs and callbacks
provided within the API.

What’s required to deploy a VR application?

Software – SteamVR is currently the preferred way to support VR applications. Steam and SteamVR
must be installed, configured and running on the user’s computer before using HOOPS Visualize in VR
mode.

Hardware – We recommend deploying on systems that are “VR Ready”. These systems contain high-
powered, dedicated graphics cards that can render two views simultaneously at 50 frames per second or
more. We recommend a GeForce 1060 graphics card equivalent or better.

What deployment modes do you support on the HoloLens?

HOOPS Visualize supports both universal windows applications and holographic remoting
applications. Universal windows applications are deployed and run locally on a HoloLens. The limited
onboard memory and GPU limit the size of models that can be loaded in and interactively rendered.
Holographic remoting applications pair a HoloLens to a secondary desktop or laptop computer. Large
scenes are rendered on the paired computer and streamed to the HoloLens headset via a Wi-Fi network.

Tech Soft 3D has helped innovative companies such as Virtalis, Meta, SOLIDWORKS and many more build successful AR and VR applications with HOOPS multi-CAD import and 3D viewing software development toolkits. Accelerate the development of your XR application with powerful, proven HOOPS 3D technology.